Ments



(Model.)

J. K. CLARK.

LATCH.

No. 480,171. l Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

Finca.

ATENT JOHN K. CLARK, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO MARY K. CLARK, OF SAME PLACE.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION formingrpart of Letters Patent No. 480,171, dated August 2, 1892.

Application filed April 7, 1891. Serial No; 388,022. (Model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN K. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buifalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and usefullmprovements in Door- Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel, efficient, and economical latch-lock; and it consists in the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying d rawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a striker for a door-latch. Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking at the interior thereof. Fig. 3 is aperspective view looking at the exterior of the improved rim-lock. Fig. et is an inside plan view of the riin-lock,omitting the detachable back plate. Fig. 5is avertical sectional view taken on the line :75, Fig. 4, with the back plate in position; and Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 'y y, Fig. Zl.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a striker-frame having lugs 2 for attaching it to a door-frame. The striker-frame is provided with an opening 3 and parallel guides 4. and 5, between which is arranged to slide the horizontal shank 6 of a catch-plate 7. The shank of the catch-plate is constructed with an arm 8, in screw-threaded engagement with a rotating screw 9, held against longitudinal movement by a pin 10. ,These elements are not essential features of my present invent-ion; but they are preferably provided, so that if the door shrinks the catch-plate can be adjusted inward toward the door-frame, and thus properly engage the door-latch for the purpose of securing perfect closure of the doorto exclude the external atmosphere and prevent the escape of cold air from within.

The door-latch 13 is shown as arranged in the casing 14 of a rim latch-lock adapted to be screwed to the outside of a door, and this latch is in the form of a bell-crank, with trunnions 15 cast integral therewith at its angle 1G. The rear extremity of the latch rises upwardly, as at 16a, and is formed with au angular orifice 17, extending transversely therethrough for engaging the angular shank 1S of a handle or knob 19. The trunnions of the catch-plate are respectively journaled in an orice 2O in Y the back plate 21 and in a boss 22, cast integral with the casing 14. of the rim latch-lock. A spiral or other suitable spring 2S is arranged between the upper side of the latch and the top wall of the latclrcasing for the purpose of pressing thelatch downward and holding it in position to engage the catch-plate The latclrcasin g is provided with asuitable slot lat a point opposite the angular orifice in the latch 7, and the angular shank 18 of the handle or knob 19 is adapted to move in this slot forthe purpose of swingingthe l'atch upon its trunnions. The angular shank of the handle or knob passes throughasleeve 24, interposed between the latch-casing la and the inside of the handle or knob in such manner as to maintain the latter in proper position relatively to the latch-casing.

'lhe latch is adapted to be locked in its normal position through the medium of asliding' lock-bolt 25, sliding horizontally in the lower portion of the latch-casing and having at one extremity an upwardly-projecting arm, which is adapted to be moved into a position directly beneath the portion 26 of the rear extremity of the latch, so that such rear extremity cannot be moved downward for the purpose of lifting the acting face of the latch from engagement with the catch-plate. The horizon tal sliding lock-bolt is adapted to be adjusted by means of a suitable key and is acted upon by a leaf-spring 27 to hold it from accidental displacement when in its locked or unlocked position.

An important feature of this construction resides in the fact that the handle or knob is rigidly attached to the latch; but at the same time instead of being an integral part of the latch it is a separate and independent part rigidly connecting with the latch. The obj ect of this construction is to enable the latch to be constructed of ordinary cast-iron or other 9 suitable metal, while the handle or knob can be formed of bronze, brass, or other more costly metal of different pattern and orna-` mented in any manner suitable for the conditions desired.

IOO

The angular shank of the handle or knob is held in rigid connection with the latch through the medium of a metal screw 28, which passes into a screw-threaded oriiice formed in the angular shank in such manner that the head of the screw bears against the inside of the latch, for which purpose the latch is preferably countersunk to receive t he head of the metal screw.

By my invention I entirely avoid the presence of a rotary hub for actuating the latch and econoinize in the construction of bronze or brass locks by enabling the latch to be formed of cast-iron or similar nietal, while the handle or knob can be made of more costly metal and ornainented in any desired manner, while at the saine time the connection between the handle or knob is rigid, so that a simple downward pressure on the handle or knob serves to lift the latch from engagement with the catchplate.

In ordinary latch-locks the latch is pivoted in the latch-case through the medin n1 of a separate pivot-pin passing through an orifice in the latch. In my invention the trunnions are cast integral with the latch. Therefore the latter is strengthened instead of weakened, while the cost of manufacture is materially reduced.

I do not claiin the catch-plate and devices for holding the saine in a Xed position after adjustment, as these features do not constitute my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. The combination, with a striker,of a latchcasing having a slot, a latch pivoted between its ends in the casing and having its rear extremity provided with an angular transverse orifice, and a handle or knob formed as a separate piece from the latch and having an angular shank secured in the angular orifice of such latch, substantially as described.

2. The combination,withastriker,ot` alatchv casing having a slot, a latch pivoted between its ends Within the casing and having its rear extremity provided with an angular orifice in coincidence with the slot in the casing, a handle or knob having an angular shank extending through the angular oritice in the latch, and a screw entering the shank of the handle or knob to rigidly attach the latter to the latch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and afixed my seal in presence ot' two subscribing Witnesses.

JOI-IN K. CLARK. [L 5.]

Vitnesses: n

lIMBALL V. CLARK, ALBERT HENNINGHAM, 

